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Best of 2019: Photojournalist Jon Austria's photos

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Sun-N-Fun Lagoon life guard Wyatt Focht swims among thousands of rubber ducks before the start of the Great Naples Duck Race, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at the Sun-N-Fun Lagoon in East Naples. Jon Austria/Naples Daily News

St. John Neumann Catholic High School graduates throw their caps in the air at the conclusion of their commencement ceremony in Golden Gate on Thursday, May 23, 2019. Jon Austria/Naples Daily News USA TODAY NETWORK - FLORIDA

A utility worker attempts to coax a bobcat off an electric pole Thursday, May 9, 2019, near the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge in Collier County. Eventually, the bobcat crawled down the pole and ran into the brush. Jon Austria/Naples Daily News USA TODAY NETWORK - FLORIDA

Carlos Alvarado, left, and Noel DeJesus Benitez with Vision Landscaping Service, prepare plants for installation on a living wall display, Friday, Oct, 4, 2019, at Celebration Park in East Naples. 660 plants of several species will be usedto add color and texture to a near a pedestrian entrance to Celebration Park along Bayshore Drive. Jon Austria/Naples Daily News USA TODAY NETWORK - FLORIDA

Children from the George Washington Carver Apartments play basketball, Oct. 9, 2109, at the River Park Community Center basketball court in River Park, Florida. Jon Austria/Naples Daily News USA TODAY NETWORK - FLORIDA

World War II and D-Day veteran Chester Sokol is comforted by his wife, Dolores "Dolly" Sokol as he recalls his first time experiencing the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder during an interview, Monday, June 3, 2019, at his home in East Naples. Jon Austria/Naples Daily News USA TODAY NETWORK - FLORIDA

Billy Witte, a site supervisor for Habitat for Humanity of Collier County, applies a protective coating on a window, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, in the Dockside neighborhood East Naples. Jon Austria/Naples Daily News

For me, 2019 was an exciting year of learning about and exploring Southwest Florida.

I learned about the people and the history that shape our community during my first year here.

I don't have a favorite image from 2019, but I do have amazing memories of the community, the local sports and the events that shape us here in Southwest Florida.

A utility worker attempts to coax a bobcat off an electric pole Thursday, May 9, 2019, near the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge in Collier County. Eventually, the bobcat crawled down the pole and ran into the brush.(Photo: Jon Austria/Naples Daily News USA TODAY NETWORK - FLORIDA)

For example, I enjoyed: learning about the history of the River Park community; the strong Latino traditions that make up Immokalee; experiencing and shooting my first hockey game; and flying high over Southwest Florida with members of the Skytypers Air Show team.

I look forward to sharing more of my adventures with you in 2020.

Fitness Challenge Triathlon competitors make their way to the starting line to begin their half-mile swim Sunday, June 2, 2019, in Naples.(Photo: Jon Austria/Naples Daily News USA TODAY NETWORK - FLORIDA)